New Delhi, July 23: Political reactions intensified following clashes between police and students during a protest in Patna. The demonstration was sparked by allegations of exam question paper leaks and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Students, led by the All India Students Association (AISA), marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Raj Bhavan, chanting slogans against the central government.
In an attempt to disperse the crowd, police deployed barricades, water cannons, and tear gas. As protesters refused to disperse, the situation escalated, prompting police to resort to baton charges.
Rohini Acharya, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and daughter of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, strongly criticized the police’s actions against the student demonstrators.
In a post on the social media platform X, she described the use of baton charges, tear gas, and water cannons as “tragic” and “condemnable.”
Acharya emphasized that students and youth have a constitutional right to raise their concerns through peaceful protests in a democracy. She accused the central government of attempting to suppress dissent through force rather than addressing the students’ demands, which she characterized as a reflection of a dictatorial mindset.
She also called on the central government to initiate dialogue with the students, acknowledge the incident, and investigate the conduct of the police and administrative officials involved.
In another post, Rohini Acharya launched a broader political attack on the NDA government, asserting that governments cannot permanently suppress public dissent. She stressed that ultimately, democratic accountability will prevail and accused the central government of resorting to repression instead of addressing public concerns.
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